Measure to Better Protect Consumers Against Surprise Medical Bills on its Way to the Governor

AUSTIN—The Texas Association of Health Plans (TAHP), the statewide trade association representing commercial and public health plans operating in Texas, today applauded final passage of Texas Senator Kelly Hancock and Representative John Frullo’s SB 507, which would significantly expand protections for Texas consumers against the growing practice of surprise medical billing, also called “balance billing.” Surprise or balance billing occurs when insured patients receive out-of-network care, often in an emergency care situation, and are billed by a provider for fees that exceed the amount paid by the insurance—charges that can be 10-20 times the going rate. Texas is home to some of the highest surprise billing rates and emergency care costs in the nation. SB 507 will now head to the governor for his signature.

Sen. Hancock and Rep. Frullo’s legislation, SB 507, would expand mediation protections, already being successfully used on a limited basis by consumers in Texas, for insured consumers with PPO plans to all out-of-network emergency providers, including all freestanding emergency rooms, and to all of out-of-network providers working at a network facility. Mediation is a process by which consumers can challenge surprise medical bills and leave the dispute to the insurer and provider. This legislation builds on a law written by Sen. Hancock in the 84th Legislature that made mediation available to consumers who were balanced billed by six types of facility-based providers: radiologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, ER physicians, neonatologists and assistant surgeons.

“With some of the most expensive ER costs and highest rates of out-of-network ER docs in the country, Texas is ground zero for exorbitant, surprise, out-of-network emergency medical bills, and Texas patients are paying the price,” said Jamie Dudensing, TAHP CEO and a former practicing nurse. “Today, the Legislature took an important step to ensure Texans are better protected against medical debt when they need it least: in an emergency medical situation. Chairman Hancock and Chairman Frullo have been leaders for Texas consumers in seeking to give them more options to challenge expensive medical bills, and we commend them for their important work to that end.”

Texas is home to:

Some of the highest emergency care costs: Texas ER spending by a major health plan is 67% more expensive than the rest of the nation

Some of the highest average ER facility charges: Texas’ charges are 36% higher than the rest of the country

Highest rates of freestanding ERs, which are chronically out of network: Over 200 FSERs in Texas – more than half nation’s total population of freestanding ERs

Texans use emergency departments 22% more than the rest of the country

Specifically, SB 507 would:

Expand mediation protections to consumers that have a PPO plan to address balance billing through mediation to all out-of-network emergency providers and to all out-of-network providers working at a network facility.

Allow mediation of balance bills from all types of out of-network providers treating patients at in-network hospitals and other facilities, including free-standing emergency departments. (Current law applies only to the six listed types of facility-based physicians: radiologists, anesthesiologists, pathologists, ER physicians, neonatologists and assistant surgeons).

Allow mediation of balance bills for emergency care from any provider or facility of emergency care services, including freestanding emergency departments.

Expand disclosure requirements regarding network status and balance billing by insurers, facilities and other health care providers including the requirement that the following statement be included on balance bills: “This is a balance bill that may be eligible for mediation.”

Expand mediation protections to the Teachers Retirement System (Already applies to the Employee Retirement System).

Additional resources on emergency medical costs in Texas can be found below:

The Texas Association of Health Plans

The Texas Association of Health Plans (TAHP) is the statewide trade association representing private health insurers, health maintenance organizations, and other related health care entities operating in Texas. Our members provide health and supplemental benefits to Texans through employer-sponsored coverage, the individual insurance market, and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. TAHP advocates for public and private health care solutions that improve the affordability, access and accountability of health care for many Texans. As the voice for health plans in Texas, TAHP strives to increase public awareness about our members’ services, health care delivery benefits and contributions to communities across Texas.